Two recreation districts that serve rural areas of northern St. Tammany Parish are asking voters to approve property taxes to operate and maintain their respective sports complexes.

The propositions for the 2nd Recreation District in Bush and the 6th Recreation District in the Lee Road community are the only items on the May 2 ballot in St. Tammany.

Officials with the 6th District are looking forward to next Saturday at noon when they'll hold a grand opening for the Johnny F. Smith Memorial Park, which includes three lighted baseball fields and a walking and exercise trail on 25 acres along Louisiana 1129, about 4.5 miles north of Barker's Corner.

And they're keeping their fingers crossed that one week after the ceremony, voters will approve a 10-year, 6-mill tax so the district can maintain and operate the facility.

"Now, that we've got new the car, we need gas money so we can use it," said Donald Sharp, chairman of the district's governing board.

May 2 will be the third time that the district has approached voters for a tax to operate a recreation complex. In 2004, voters rejected both a bond issue to build a facility and a millage to operate it.

In fall 2007, voters said yes to a 20-year, $2 million bond issue to build the complex on the acreage donated by the family of the late Slidell businessman for which the park is named. But voters said no to a 6.5-mill tax to operate the facility.

With the opening of the park, the need for the tax becomes paramount, Sharp said. "If it doesn't pass, I guess we could only play ball during the daylight hours," he said.

Sharp said he understands voters may have been reluctant to approve an operating tax. "A lot of people were saying show us what you can do and then, we'll support you," he said. "We now have a facility the whole community can be proud of."

The tax, if approved, would generate about $108,000 annually, according to the proposition. Sharp said the money, in addition to maintaining and operating the facility, would be used to hire a director for the complex and to match state, federal or corporate grants to improve it.

In Bush, the 2nd District is asking voters essentially to renew for 10 years a 3-mill tax to operate and maintain its complex of athletic fields and gymnasium on Watts-Thomas Road.

District officials stress that the proposition is not a new tax, although it's not labeled as a renewal or continuation on the ballot. That's because the tax expired last year and goes on the ballot as a new tax.

The 3 mills is expected to generate about $43,000 per year.

The taxes for both districts would be state homestead exempt. The 3-mill tax would cost the owner of a $200,000 home $37.50 per year.

The 6 mills for the 6th District would cost the owner of a $200,000 home $75 annually.

Charlie Chapple can be reached at cchapple@timespicayune.com or 985.898.4828.